The First Vanizem-Powered Sleep Formula Hits the Market

Vanizem (Aframomum melegueta) Extract – 150mg

Vanizem is PLT Health Solutions’ branded extract of grains of paradise (Aframomum melegueta), a West African spice that’s been used in traditional medicine for centuries. What makes Vanizem unique isn’t just its botanical origin, but its mechanism of action: it works by inhibiting fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH), the enzyme that breaks down anandamide (AEA) in your body. When FAAH activity goes down, anandamide levels go up.

Anandamide, often called the “bliss molecule”, is your body’s primary endocannabinoid neurotransmitter. It influences mood, stress response, pain perception, and sleep regulation through multiple pathways, including activation of cannabinoid receptors and TRPV-1 channels. By naturally elevating your body’s own anandamide production rather than introducing synthetic cannabinoids or pharmaceutical compounds, Vanizem supports your endocannabinoid system in the way it was designed to function.

Clinical Research: Mood and Sleep Benefits

There’s clinical research on Vanizem, too. In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, dose-ranging crossover trial, 30 healthy adults (ages 40-50) with mild anxiety took either 50mg, 100mg, or 150mg of Vanizem daily for just three days.[1] The results were impressive, especially considering the short timeframe.

Vanizem produced dose-dependent improvements in Total Mood Disturbance scores, with the 150mg and 100mg doses showing the most significant effects.[1] Breaking down the individual mood components, participants taking Vanizem reported meaningful improvements in tension, depression, fatigue, and vigor compared to placebo.

Vanizem takes stress relief to the next level by boosting anandamide, the “bliss molecule,” and supporting your endocannabinoid system. Elevate mood, improve sleep, and protect against chronic stress–all naturally.

But here’s where it gets really interesting for a sleep formula: Vanizem significantly improved both sleep onset (getting to sleep faster) and sleep quality after just 1-2 doses.[1] The effect sizes for these sleep parameters in the high-dose groups were substantial. Participants didn’t just fall asleep faster; they reported better overall sleep quality and improved morning alertness.

At 150mg in Sleep Peptide Zz, you’re getting the clinically-validated dose that showed the strongest effects in the research. This isn’t a megadose or an underdose; it’s precisely what the science supports for mood and sleep benefits through natural anandamide upregulation.

You can learn more in our main article titled “Vanizem: Enhance Mood and Conquer Stress by Boosting Anandamide Production“.

Right off the bat, this is a reason to get excited: the first supplement we’ve seen with Vanizem, and it’s dosed correctly. But there’s only more… much more:

PharmaGABA (Natural Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid) – 250mg

GABA is your brain’s primary inhibitory neurotransmitter, responsible for reducing neuronal excitability and calming an overactive nervous system. We’ll talk about GABA a lot in this article, because many ingredients hit the GABAergic system. When stress keeps your mind racing at night, insufficient GABAergic activity is often the underlying problem. PharmaGABA is naturally produced through fermentation rather than synthetic manufacturing, providing the same molecular structure your body produces.

Clinical research shows that GABA supplementation reduces sleep latency and increases non-REM sleep time.[2] In one study, 100mg GABA shortened the time to fall asleep by approximately 20% and significantly improved feelings upon awakening compared to placebo. GABA’s effects peak within 30 minutes of ingestion, which explains why it primarily influences sleep onset and the early stages of sleep.[2]

At 250mg, this formula provides more than double the clinically-studied dose. GABA also works synergistically with Venetron and L-theanine to enhance GABAergic neurotransmission and upregulate GABA receptor expression,[3] making the combination of these three ingredients more effective than either alone. You’ll see more synergy discussed below.

PeptiSleep (peptides from brown rice protein hydrolysate) – 250mg

PeptiSleep is Nuritas’s AI-discovered peptide ingredient from brown rice that addresses what’s often overlooked in sleep formulas: elevated cortisol. Rather than sedating you or manipulating melatonin, PeptiSleep targets orexin receptors to suppress nighttime cortisol release, tackling a root cause of sleep disruption instead of masking symptoms.

In a randomized, placebo-controlled trial at 250mg (the exact dose here) that’s soon to be published, participants experienced 12 additional minutes of REM sleep, 13 more minutes of deep sleep, and 38 more minutes of total sleep compared to placebo. Heart rate variability improved by 32%, while Leeds Sleep Evaluation Questionnaire scores improved across all four domains. Because PeptiSleep doesn’t affect morning cortisol levels, you wake up refreshed instead of groggy.

Combined with Vanizem’s anandamide upregulation and PharmaGABA’s direct calming effects, PeptiSleep rounds out a multi-pathway sleep approach.

Zylaria (Fermented Zylaria nigripes Mycelium Extract, Cuscuta chinensis Seed Extract, Panax notoginseng Root Extract) – 500mg

Zylaria is a branded extract that combines three botanicals into a single GABA-supporting formula. The primary component is fermented Xylaria nigripes mycelium, a medicinal fungus traditionally used in Chinese medicine for treating insomnia and promoting relaxation. The formula also includes Cuscuta chinensis (dodder seed) and Panax notoginseng (notoginseng root) to create what the research suggests is a synergistic effect on neurotransmitter production.

The mechanism centers on GABA upregulation through two complementary pathways. First, Zylaria increases the activity of glutamate decarboxylase (GAD), the enzyme that converts glutamate into GABA.[4] Second, it inhibits GABA-T (GABA transaminase), the enzyme that breaks down GABA, resulting in higher baseline GABA levels in neural tissue.[4]

Clinical research shows that Xylaria nigripes improves sleep quality and reduces depressive symptoms in human trials.[5][6] Animal studies show it mitigates spatial memory impairment induced by sleep deprivation and increases CREB phosphorylation in the hippocampus, a marker of memory formation and neural plasticity.[7]

At 500mg, you’re getting the clinically-studied dose that’s shown these effects in research. This isn’t just about knocking you out at night. By supporting your brain’s natural GABA production and preservation, Zylaria helps create the neurochemical environment your body needs to transition into restorative sleep naturally.

L-TeaActive L-Theanine – 200mg

L-theanine is a unique amino acid found almost exclusively in tea leaves that promotes relaxation without sedation. It works by increasing alpha wave generation in the brain (associated with calm, relaxed states), modulating GABAergic activity to quiet nervous system overactivation, and balancing neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin that influence stress response and sleep quality.[8][9]

In a four-week clinical trial, 200mg of L-theanine taken nightly improved sleep latency, sleep disturbance, and overall sleep quality on the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index.[10] Research shows L-theanine works synergistically with GABA (like the PharmaGABA in this formula), naturally increasing brain GABA levels and enhancing GABAergic relaxation.[9]

At 200mg, you’re getting the clinically-validated dose for stress reduction and sleep support.

Sleeproot Valerian (Valeriana officinalis) Root Extract – 200mg

Valerian root has been used in Europe for over 2,000 years as a calming agent and sleep aid, earning official recognition in The United States Pharmacopoeia from 1820 to 1936.[11] What makes valerian effective isn’t just one compound, but rather interactions among its 150+ chemical constituents, including valerenic acid, valepotriates, and amino acids like none other than… more GABA![11]

Valerian works through multiple pathways to promote sleep. It modulates GABA neurotransmission by increasing GABA concentrations in the synaptic cleft, either through reuptake inhibition or by influencing GABA transporters.[12] Valerian also acts on adenosine A1 receptors, which helps reduce excitatory neurotransmission in the forebrain and increases the homeostatic drive for sleep.[13]

Clinical research supports valerian’s sleep benefits. In one controlled trial, participants with non-organic sleep disorders who took valerian-hops combination for four weeks showed significant reductions in sleep latency (the time it takes to fall asleep), with the median sleep latency dropping from 56.5 minutes to just 12 minutes.[13] Research also found valerian increased slow-wave sleep without altering overall sleep architecture, meaning it helps you get deeper, more restorative sleep without causing the dependency or rebound insomnia associated with pharmaceutical sleep aids.[14]

Lactium (Casein Hydrolysate supplying bioactive peptides) – 150mg

Lactium is a tryptic hydrolysate derived from bovine milk alpha-s1 casein, standardized for its bioactive decapeptide alpha-casozepine. This peptide exhibits anxiolytic activity through a fascinating mechanism: it binds to GABA-A receptors (the same receptor system targeted by benzodiazepines) but without the dependency, tolerance, or side effect profile associated with pharmaceutical sleep aids.[15]

The connection between Lactium and sleep improvement centers on its ability to reduce stress-induced sleep disturbances. In animal models, alpha-s1 casein hydrolysate prevented the sleep disruption typically caused by chronic mild stress, maintaining both slow-wave sleep duration and paradoxical sleep.[16]

Clinical Evidence in Adults with Sleep Issues

Human research backs up the stress-sleep connection. In a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled crossover trial of 48 adults with mild-to-moderate sleep disturbance, participants taking alpha-s1 casein hydrolysate showed significant improvements in sleep efficiency measured by actigraphy after 4 weeks of supplementation.[17] The improvements were cumulative, with more pronounced effects appearing after continuous use rather than acute dosing.

More recently, a 2024 trial examining Lactium combined with L-theanine (exactly the pairing you’re getting in Sleep Peptide Zz) found significant reductions in wake-after-sleep-onset counts and earlier bedtimes in the supplemented group.[18] Participants showed increases in total sleep time, sleep efficiency, and decreases in sleep onset latency over the 8-week intervention period.

At 150mg per serving, Sleep Peptide Zz delivers half the standalone research dose, but combined with the synergistic ingredients in this formula (especially L-theanine, which was specifically studied alongside Lactium) this dosage makes strategic sense for a multi-ingredient sleep stack rather than a Lactium-only intervention.

PhytoCann BP Black Pepper (Piper nigrum) Extract – 50mg

PhytoCann BP is a specialized black pepper extract that works through an entirely different mechanism than traditional piperine-based extracts. Rather than just enhancing absorption, PhytoCann BP is standardized for phytocannabinoids and terpenes (including β-caryophyllene, α-pinene, β-pinene, and α-humulene) that activate your body’s cannabinoid type 2 receptors (CB2).[19]

The CB2 receptor system plays a critical role in regulating inflammation, stress response, and nervous system function.[20] What makes this especially relevant for sleep is that CB2 activation doesn’t cause any psychotropic effects (that’s CB1 receptors), but it does help reduce systemic inflammation and support healthy stress responses through your body’s endocannabinoid system.[19]

The primary active terpene in PhytoCann BP, β-caryophyllene, has been shown in research to support healthy inflammatory responses and promote relaxation without sedation.[19] At 50mg, you’re getting a clinically-relevant dose that complements the other stress-reducing and sleep-supporting ingredients in this formula by working through the endocannabinoid pathway.

Venetron Rafuma (Apocynum venetum) Leaf Extract – 50mg

Venetron is a purified extract of Apocynum venetum (rafuma) leaves, standardized to contain at least 2% hyperoside and 2% isoquercitrin. These flavonoid compounds work through a unique sleep-supporting mechanism: they’re metabolized into quercetin and its glucuronide, which inhibit the breakdown of serotonin in the bloodstream.[21] When your serotonin levels stay elevated throughout the day, your body converts more of it to melatonin at night, supporting natural sleep-wake rhythms without adding external melatonin.

Venetron also works synergistically with GABA, helping your body’s primary calming neurotransmitter bind more effectively to its receptors.[22] In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial, 50mg daily Venetron significantly improved sleep quality and reduced psychological stress markers compared to placebo.[23] The dose here matches what’s clinically validated for sleep support.

Zinc (as TRAACS Zinc Bisglycinate Chelate) – 30mg

PLT Health Solutions: Growth Through Innovation

Zinc isn’t just an immune mineral. Research shows it’s directly involved in sleep regulation through multiple pathways, including modulation of GABA and glutamate (key neurotransmitters for sleep-wake cycles), melatonin synthesis, and antioxidant protection against oxidative stress that disrupts sleep patterns.[24] Clinical trials demonstrate that zinc supplementation improves both sleep quality and reduces the time it takes to fall asleep.[25]

Sleep Peptide Zz uses Albion’s TRAACS Zinc Bisglycinate Chelate, an amino acid-bound form with superior bioavailability. Since the small intestine absorbs amino acids efficiently, chelating zinc to glycine allows the mineral to enter your bloodstream alongside the amino acid, bypassing the absorption limitations of cheaper zinc forms like zinc oxide. At 30mg, you’re getting a dose that supports healthy zinc levels without excessive intake, working alongside magnesium for comprehensive mineral support of neurotransmitter function and sleep architecture.

Magnesium (from Sucrosomial Magnesium, Magnesium Bis-Glycinate Chelate Buffered) – 182mg

Magnesium is critical for sleep regulation, and deficiency creates a vicious cycle: stress depletes magnesium stores, which then increases stress hormone release, further depleting magnesium.[26] Sleep Peptide Zz breaks this cycle with 182mg of highly bioavailable forms.

Research shows magnesium improves both sleep duration and quality through multiple mechanisms.[27] The mineral helps lower cortisol levels, which normalizes sleep patterns,[28] and works as a natural NMDA receptor antagonist, helping modulate glutamate activity and reduce the nervous system excitability that keeps you awake.

The formula combines Sucrosomial Magnesium with Magnesium Bis-Glycinate Chelate Buffered for superior absorption. Sucrosomial Magnesium uses a phospholipid and sucrose ester envelope that protects the mineral through the stomach, allowing it to be absorbed intact within the intestines.[29] In a 2018 head-to-head study, Sucrosomial magnesium outperformed magnesium citrate, oxide, and even bisglycinate in raising blood magnesium levels.[29] The bisglycinate form adds another high-absorption pathway through amino acid transporters while being gentler on digestion than standard forms.[30]